Aug 15, 2025
Solar + EV in BC: How to Size Your System and Lower Your Charging Costs in 2025
Electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels are a perfect match. Instead of paying BC Hydro to charge your car, you can generate your own clean energy and dramatically lower charging costs. With EV adoption growing across British Columbia, more homeowners are asking: How large should my solar system be to power both my home and an EV—and how do I keep charging costs as low as possible?
This guide breaks it down: EV energy needs, solar system sizing in BC, smart charging strategies, and what rebates and technologies are worth considering in 2025.
How Much Energy Does an EV Use?
EVs vary in efficiency, but most consume 15–20 kWh per 100 km. Here’s a quick look:
Chevrolet Bolt (compact): ~17 kWh/100 km
Tesla Model 3 (midsize): 16–18 kWh/100 km
Large SUV (e.g., Kia EV9): 20–25 kWh/100 km
That means:
Driving 15,000 km/year at 18 kWh/100 km = ~2,700 kWh annually
Driving 20,000 km/year at 20 kWh/100 km = ~4,000 kWh annually
For context, the average BC home uses ~10,000 kWh/year. Adding an EV can increase electricity needs by 25–40%.
How to Add EV Charging to Solar Sizing
When planning solar, you need to cover both household consumption + EV charging demand.
Example:
Household consumption: 10,000 kWh/year
EV demand: 3,000 kWh/year
Total need: 13,000 kWh/year
In the Fraser Valley, 1 kW of solar generates about 1,100 kWh/year.
So: 13,000 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.8 kW of solar panels required.
For many BC homes, a practical setup would be ~12 kW of panels.
Pro tip: If you expect to add a second EV, size up now—it’s cheaper than upgrading later.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels are a perfect match. Instead of paying BC Hydro to charge your car, you can generate your own clean energy and dramatically lower charging costs. With EV adoption growing across British Columbia, more homeowners are asking: How large should my solar system be to power both my home and an EV—and how do I keep charging costs as low as possible?
This guide breaks it down: EV energy needs, solar system sizing in BC, smart charging strategies, and what rebates and technologies are worth considering in 2025.
How Much Energy Does an EV Use?
EVs vary in efficiency, but most consume 15–20 kWh per 100 km. Here’s a quick look:
Chevrolet Bolt (compact): ~17 kWh/100 km
Tesla Model 3 (midsize): 16–18 kWh/100 km
Large SUV (e.g., Kia EV9): 20–25 kWh/100 km
That means:
Driving 15,000 km/year at 18 kWh/100 km = ~2,700 kWh annually
Driving 20,000 km/year at 20 kWh/100 km = ~4,000 kWh annually
For context, the average BC home uses ~10,000 kWh/year. Adding an EV can increase electricity needs by 25–40%.
How to Add EV Charging to Solar Sizing
When planning solar, you need to cover both household consumption + EV charging demand.
Example:
Household consumption: 10,000 kWh/year
EV demand: 3,000 kWh/year
Total need: 13,000 kWh/year
In the Fraser Valley, 1 kW of solar generates about 1,100 kWh/year.
So: 13,000 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.8 kW of solar panels required.
For many BC homes, a practical setup would be ~12 kW of panels.
Pro tip: If you expect to add a second EV, size up now—it’s cheaper than upgrading later.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels are a perfect match. Instead of paying BC Hydro to charge your car, you can generate your own clean energy and dramatically lower charging costs. With EV adoption growing across British Columbia, more homeowners are asking: How large should my solar system be to power both my home and an EV—and how do I keep charging costs as low as possible?
This guide breaks it down: EV energy needs, solar system sizing in BC, smart charging strategies, and what rebates and technologies are worth considering in 2025.
How Much Energy Does an EV Use?
EVs vary in efficiency, but most consume 15–20 kWh per 100 km. Here’s a quick look:
Chevrolet Bolt (compact): ~17 kWh/100 km
Tesla Model 3 (midsize): 16–18 kWh/100 km
Large SUV (e.g., Kia EV9): 20–25 kWh/100 km
That means:
Driving 15,000 km/year at 18 kWh/100 km = ~2,700 kWh annually
Driving 20,000 km/year at 20 kWh/100 km = ~4,000 kWh annually
For context, the average BC home uses ~10,000 kWh/year. Adding an EV can increase electricity needs by 25–40%.
How to Add EV Charging to Solar Sizing
When planning solar, you need to cover both household consumption + EV charging demand.
Example:
Household consumption: 10,000 kWh/year
EV demand: 3,000 kWh/year
Total need: 13,000 kWh/year
In the Fraser Valley, 1 kW of solar generates about 1,100 kWh/year.
So: 13,000 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.8 kW of solar panels required.
For many BC homes, a practical setup would be ~12 kW of panels.
Pro tip: If you expect to add a second EV, size up now—it’s cheaper than upgrading later.
Choosing the Right EV Charger
Not all chargers are created equal:
Level 1 (120 V outlet): Adds 5–8 km of range per hour. Fine for low mileage drivers.
Level 2 (240 V): Adds 30–40 km of range per hour. Best for most EV owners.
Installation tips:
Make sure your electrical panel can handle the extra load.
If you’re already installing solar, bundle panel upgrades and charger circuits—it’s cheaper to do both at once.
Rebates in 2025: CleanBC offers ~$350 for home Level 2 chargers, with some municipalities offering additional incentives.
Battery Storage & Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) in BC
Battery storage: Lets you charge an EV at night with stored solar, but adds $10,000+ for a 10 kWh battery. Currently, not covered under the Greener Homes Grant.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Certain EVs (like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Nissan Leaf) can power your house during outages. While promising, regulations and grid rules in BC are still catching up.
Real-World Example: Chilliwack Household
Household use: 9,000 kWh/year
EV use: 18,000 km/year @ 18 kWh/100 km = 3,240 kWh/year
Total demand: 12,240 kWh/year
Solar needed: 12,240 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.1 kW
System choice: ~12 kW of panels
Charging strategy: EV charging scheduled for 11 a.m.–3 p.m. → ~70% solar powered
Savings: $450–$600 annually compared to grid-only charging, with near-zero emissions.
Conclusion
In BC, pairing solar panels with an electric vehicle is one of the smartest financial and environmental moves you can make in 2025. To get it right:
Estimate your EV’s yearly kWh consumption
Add it to household usage
Divide by 1,100 kWh (solar yield per kW in Fraser Valley)
With smart charging habits, a properly sized system, and BC’s available rebates, you can drive on sunshine, cutting fuel costs, lowering utility bills, and reducing your carbon footprint.
If you’re considering a solar system for EV charging in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, or anywhere in BC, now is the time to design it right.
Choosing the Right EV Charger
Not all chargers are created equal:
Level 1 (120 V outlet): Adds 5–8 km of range per hour. Fine for low mileage drivers.
Level 2 (240 V): Adds 30–40 km of range per hour. Best for most EV owners.
Installation tips:
Make sure your electrical panel can handle the extra load.
If you’re already installing solar, bundle panel upgrades and charger circuits—it’s cheaper to do both at once.
Rebates in 2025: CleanBC offers ~$350 for home Level 2 chargers, with some municipalities offering additional incentives.
Battery Storage & Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) in BC
Battery storage: Lets you charge an EV at night with stored solar, but adds $10,000+ for a 10 kWh battery. Currently, not covered under the Greener Homes Grant.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Certain EVs (like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Nissan Leaf) can power your house during outages. While promising, regulations and grid rules in BC are still catching up.
Real-World Example: Chilliwack Household
Household use: 9,000 kWh/year
EV use: 18,000 km/year @ 18 kWh/100 km = 3,240 kWh/year
Total demand: 12,240 kWh/year
Solar needed: 12,240 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.1 kW
System choice: ~12 kW of panels
Charging strategy: EV charging scheduled for 11 a.m.–3 p.m. → ~70% solar powered
Savings: $450–$600 annually compared to grid-only charging, with near-zero emissions.
Conclusion
In BC, pairing solar panels with an electric vehicle is one of the smartest financial and environmental moves you can make in 2025. To get it right:
Estimate your EV’s yearly kWh consumption
Add it to household usage
Divide by 1,100 kWh (solar yield per kW in Fraser Valley)
With smart charging habits, a properly sized system, and BC’s available rebates, you can drive on sunshine, cutting fuel costs, lowering utility bills, and reducing your carbon footprint.
If you’re considering a solar system for EV charging in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, or anywhere in BC, now is the time to design it right.
Choosing the Right EV Charger
Not all chargers are created equal:
Level 1 (120 V outlet): Adds 5–8 km of range per hour. Fine for low mileage drivers.
Level 2 (240 V): Adds 30–40 km of range per hour. Best for most EV owners.
Installation tips:
Make sure your electrical panel can handle the extra load.
If you’re already installing solar, bundle panel upgrades and charger circuits—it’s cheaper to do both at once.
Rebates in 2025: CleanBC offers ~$350 for home Level 2 chargers, with some municipalities offering additional incentives.
Battery Storage & Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) in BC
Battery storage: Lets you charge an EV at night with stored solar, but adds $10,000+ for a 10 kWh battery. Currently, not covered under the Greener Homes Grant.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Certain EVs (like the Ford F-150 Lightning or Nissan Leaf) can power your house during outages. While promising, regulations and grid rules in BC are still catching up.
Real-World Example: Chilliwack Household
Household use: 9,000 kWh/year
EV use: 18,000 km/year @ 18 kWh/100 km = 3,240 kWh/year
Total demand: 12,240 kWh/year
Solar needed: 12,240 ÷ 1,100 ≈ 11.1 kW
System choice: ~12 kW of panels
Charging strategy: EV charging scheduled for 11 a.m.–3 p.m. → ~70% solar powered
Savings: $450–$600 annually compared to grid-only charging, with near-zero emissions.
Conclusion
In BC, pairing solar panels with an electric vehicle is one of the smartest financial and environmental moves you can make in 2025. To get it right:
Estimate your EV’s yearly kWh consumption
Add it to household usage
Divide by 1,100 kWh (solar yield per kW in Fraser Valley)
With smart charging habits, a properly sized system, and BC’s available rebates, you can drive on sunshine, cutting fuel costs, lowering utility bills, and reducing your carbon footprint.
If you’re considering a solar system for EV charging in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, or anywhere in BC, now is the time to design it right.
